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Lars Hamer

Naomi Osaka said she felt inspired by her run at the US Open after she lost a gripping semi-final to Amanda Anisimova in New York on Friday.
Anisimova, the world No 9 from the United States, progressed to her second consecutive grand slam final, seeing off Osaka of Japan 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted almost three hours.
The American had made headlines for unwanted reasons in the Wimbledon final in July, when she was demolished 6-0, 6-0 by Iga Swiatek, but she showed mental toughness in the early hours of Friday to battle back from a set down.
It denied Osaka a first grand slam final since she won the Australian Open in 2021, as she continues her return to tennis after having a child.

“Honestly I don’t feel sad,” Osaka said. “It’s really weird. I just feel like I did the best that I could.
“It’s kind of inspiring for me, because it makes me just want to train and try to get better, and hopefully, yeah, just give it my very best shot again and see what happens.
“But I think I can’t be mad or upset at myself.”
Anisimova was overjoyed to reach the final of her home slam.
“It means the world, I am trying to process that right now,” Anisimova said. “It’s just absolutely a dream come true.
“This has been a dream of mine, like, forever, to be in the US Open final, and obviously the hope is to be the champion.”
The first set was a whirlwind that contained 10 break points, with each player converting two. Former world No 1 Osaka broke Anisimova in the first game and threatened to go a double break up.
But Anisimova fought back from 40-0 down to win the third and broke Osaka before winning three games in a row to go 6-5 up.
In the tiebreak, Osaka almost threw away a 6-1 lead before prevailing 7-4.
The pair broke three times apiece in the second set, with Osaka cutting a frustrated figure and at one point hitting her racquet against the floor before converting the match’s 16th break point.
Later, she engaged in a heated discussion with one of her coaching staff, who could be heard saying, “You’re not fighting with me, come on.”
She saved another break point to lead 6-5 before Anisimova turned the tables on the first set’s conclusion, going up 5-1 in the tiebreak and eventually taking it 7-3.
The third set was more straightforward for Anisimova, who has won two WTA 1000 tournaments but never a slam.

“Naomi is playing amazing tennis, she’s back where she belongs,” Anisimova said. “And I told her, like, I’m so proud of her. After having a baby and playing at this level, it’s insane.
“She was really giving me a run for the final; I wasn’t sure I would make it past the finish line, and I tried to dig deep.”
She added: “This tournament means so much to me, and I think that was really getting to me.”
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka awaits in Saturday’s final after she beat the US’ Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the other semi-final.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse


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Sport

Tennis

American edges a match lasting almost three hours, denying Osaka a first grand slam final since 2021


American edges a match lasting almost three hours, denying Osaka a first grand slam final since 2021.


Naomi Osaka

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Amanda Anisimova

Aryna Sabalenka

US Open: Naomi Osaka halted by Amanda Anisimova but ‘can’t be mad or upset’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}American edges a match lasting almost three hours, denying Osaka a first grand slam final since 2021

American edges a match lasting almost three hours, denying Osaka a first grand slam final since 2021